DÜSSELDORF, Germany – The economic downturn that has stalled decisions on capital outlay for the big ticket machines of radiology is benefitting a rapidly shifting market for ultrasound that is expected to grow by 15% each year from almost $3 billion in 2008 to over $5 billion by 2012. (Medical Device Daily)

For influenza testing as the H1N1 virus rises to pandemic levels, there is the first-to-market advantage and then there is, well, not much for all the rest. Moving quickly since guidelines were released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August, 2009, the Korean company Seegene (Bangyi-Dong, South Korea) was able to present at the Medica trade fair held here last week a real-time, high volume rapid test for the four pathogen assays required by guidelines. (Medical Device Daily)

DÜSSELDORF, Germany – Motion detecting is more than just fun and games. The technology behind the popular Wii from Nintendo is "pretty lightweight technology," according to Marc Attia who directs sales for Movea (Grenoble), who suggests there is a lot more science, and especially clinically useful information, that can be extracted from monitoring the activities of patients. (Medical Device Daily)

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — Just as a great chess game can begin with the advance of a modest pawn, the CEO of Welch Allyn (Skaneateles Falls, New York), Julie Shimer rolled forward the new CP 50, a transportable electrocardiograph (ECG) that represents the leading edge of the company's ambitious plans for international expansion. (Medical Device Daily)